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I think one of the only ways to stop ransomware would be to setup a team distributing the ransomware, extracting fees from the victims and then -not- providing
by jjeaff 6y ago
I think one of the only ways to stop ransomware would be to setup a team distributing the ransomware, extracting fees from the victims and then -not- providing the keys. A few high profile cases of this should be enough to destroy confidence that paying a random will work.
- russellendicott 6y agoThis is brilliant. Destroy the credibility of the criminals.
- vkou 6y agoThe ransomware guys will wise up, and use different keys to encrypt different parts of your database. They'll then request some fraction of the payment, in exchange for decrypting part of your DB, as proof that they do have keys.
- markkanof 6y agoCouldn't you also just plant some "shills" who claim that this happened to them and they lost all their data?
- meowface 6y agoYes, this'd probably be a better idea. But the issue is there are many different ransomware gangs and malware families. We'd probably start seeing a twisted form of corporate PR from most of them. "We're not like the rest. We abide by a strict code of ethics and believe fair and honest dealing is paramount to our reputation and customers' trust in us. We will never add hidden charges or 'alter the deal'. Rest assured that your keys are stored securely and will always be delivered to you within 4 hours of payment. That's the CryptoLockDeluxe guarantee." It reminds me a lot of piracy in EVE Online, where pirates' reputation for allowing ships to carry on after paying the random was considered a big deal.
- jjeaff 6y agoEverytime a new group pops up, then you start planting stories using their name and the same promises.
- tootahe45 6y agoA better way would be to charge the university with funding a criminal enterprise.
- jessriedel 6y agoPaying ransoms of any kind has never been considered illegal simply because they are "funding a criminal enterprise". Outlawing random payments is certainly one viable attach on the enterprise, but it requires new legislation (and you better be prepared to levy some serious punishment on victims, which is hard to stomach).